Black ants and buddhists
Subtitle: thinking critically and teaching differently in the primary grades
By: Mary Cowhey ; foreword by Sonia Nieto.
Publisher: Stenhouse Publishers
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Portland, Me
Language: eng
Number of pages: 244
Subjects: Multicultural education -- United States; Elementary school teaching -- United States; Cultural awareness -- Study and teaching (Primary) -- United States; Minorities -- Education (Primary) -- United States
Description: "What would a classroom look like if understanding and respecting differences in race, culture, beliefs, and opinions were at its heart? Welcome to Mary Cowhey's Peace Class in Northampton, MA, where first and second graders view the entire curriculum through the framework of understanding the world, and trying to do their part to make it a better place."

"Woven through the book is Mary's unflinching and humorous account of her own roots in a struggling large Irish Catholic family and her early career as a community activist. Mary's teaching is infused with lessons of her heroes: Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others. Her students learn to make connections between their lives, the books they read, the community leaders they meet, and the larger world."

"If you were inspired to become a teacher because you wanted to change the world, and instead find yourself limited by teach-to-the-test pressures, this is the book that will make you think hard about how you spend your time with students. It offers no easy answers, just a wealth of insight into the challenges of helping students think critically about the world, and starting points for conversations about diversity and controversy in your classroom, as well as in the larger community."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.